Meeting in Baltimore for the Benefit of Presbyterian ministers in the South.
--A meeting was held on Thursday evening, in the Central Presbyterian Church, to adopt measures for the relief of ministers of said church residing in the
South.
A large audience was present, together with a delegation from each of the
Presbyterian churches in the city.
The meeting was opened by the singing of an anthem, and prayer.
Honorable Judge Giles was called to the chair, who, upon assuming the position, stated briefly the object of the meeting.
The Rev. Dr. Dickson, of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, presented a preamble, setting forth the deplorably desolated condition of the
Southern churches and the suffering of their pastors, with resolutions looking to the taking up of a collection and to appoint a committee to obtain contributions in aid of their brethren in the
South.
In support of the resolutions,
Dr. Dickson,
Hon. J. Morrison Harris, and
Rev. Dr. Backus, of the First Presbyterian Church, delivered short addresses, concurring fully in the language of the preamble and resolutions, and setting forth in eloquent language the destitute condition of pastors of the different churches in the
South, and the broad field of charity thus opened to those desirous of contributing thereto.
During the remarks of the speakers it was stated that there were some seven hundred ministers in the
South, representing a membership of about thirty-five thousand, hardly one of which could be supported by their congregation.
A committee of ten from each church, to carry out the purpose of taking collections, was then appointed.
The committee to obtain contributions consists of
Rev. Dr. Backus,
Rev. Dr. Bullock,
Rev. Dr. Smith, and
Messrs. Whitely and
Mercer.
A collection was then taken up, resulting in the realization of a handsome sum towards the furtherance of the object for which the meeting had been called.--
Baltimore Gazette. 
